Question 1

do surgical margins matter for benign breast conditions (after excisional biopsy surgery)?  would re-excision be necessary if no malignancy is found?

Accepted Answer

No: If benign, margins are irrelevant.  Hope this helps.

Question 2

pathology report for mole biopsy said "specimen received in formalin. surgical margins marked green". my doctor didn't mark it green. does the pathologist do this? i'm worried it's not my mole.

Accepted Answer

Yes: The pathologist or more likely the pathologist assistant does this when submitting the tissue for histological evaluation.  It is totally normal.  Don't worry it's yours!

Question 3

if margin is clear could cancer cells still be left behind after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The goal of every cancer surgery is to remove the cancer and a rim of normal tissue to "clear margins".  Despite this, there may be microscopic cancer left behind, either in the surgical area or elsewhere in the body. This is why we often recommend radiation- and chemotherapy --to treat this local or systemic disease, respectively.  Regrettably, it's what we don't see that matters most.

Question 4

what does truncation of the apical free margin of the lateral meniscal body mean? this mri was done after having surgery.

Accepted Answer

Post op changes: The radiologist is describing the part of your lateral meniscus (cartilage pad in the middle of your knee on the outside half of the joint) that looks different than it usually does, like it was cut or shaved down or there was a torn rim of the cartilage that was removed.  Your ortho surgeon should be able to confirm that is what he did in the surgery.

Question 5

i had surgery a few days ago, a re excision to remove the margin of a phyllodes tumor. do surgeons generally reopen last excision or make it bigger?

Accepted Answer

They make it bigger: Re-excision means wider margins.

Question 6

what do clear margins mean in stomach cancer surgery?

Accepted Answer

Good surgery: It means the surgeon was able to cut the cancer out leaving no large amts of cancer from the primary site behind. It doesn't mean there isn't microscopic dz still left which is why some need chemo +/- radiation after successful surgery.

Question 7

could doctor know if any malignant cells has been left behind after surgery? what if the prioximal and margin are clear?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Your surgeon evaluates the margins of your specimen under the microscope with a pathologist at the time of the operation. This is done as a "frozen section" of the specimen. Later, the pathologist evaluates the specimen with permanent stains and markers. This is the final determination of the specimen and its characteristics. Your surgeon should be able to tell you the specifics of your specimen.

Question 8

6 month injury. mri: reads chronic subcentimeter avulsion fx lateral navicular with sclerotic margins and cystic changes. will this require surgery?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Surgery may be required if the fracture site is symptomatic and has not responded to conservative treatment.

Question 9

month ago i had surgery of cervical dysplasia hpv of cervix there any chance hpv might come back even if pathologist said margins are clear after surg?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hpv is there for keeps and the dysplasia might return as well. You'll be sensible and get your follow-up pap smears just as before. Be grateful for surgery that may well have saved your life.

Question 10

is swelling 6 months after orif surgery (almost 1 year after initial met. stress fx) normal? fracture margins remain slightly apparent on xray.

Accepted Answer

Unstable.....?: Swelling in this case can be a sign of instability. Six months and still swollen is concerning. More critical is whether or no there is any pain associated with it. Ask your surgeon for an explanation. If the surgeon's answer seems reasonable or not, it might be time for another opinion. Hey, it's your foot. You won't be satisfied until you know. Now go out and put another shrimp on the Bar-B.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Cin3 involving surgical margins

A member asked:

Do surgical margins matter for benign breast conditions (after excisional biopsy surgery)? would re-excision be necessary if no malignancy is found?

A member asked:

Pathology report for mole biopsy said "specimen received in formalin. surgical margins marked green". my doctor didn't mark it green. does the pathologist do this? i'm worried it's not my mole.

A member asked:

If margin is clear could cancer cells still be left behind after surgery?

A member asked:

What does truncation of the apical free margin of the lateral meniscal body mean? this mri was done after having surgery.

A member asked:

I had surgery a few days ago, a re excision to remove the margin of a phyllodes tumor. do surgeons generally reopen last excision or make it bigger?

A member asked:

What do clear margins mean in stomach cancer surgery?

A member asked:

Could doctor know if any malignant cells has been left behind after surgery? what if the prioximal and margin are clear?

A member asked:

6 month injury. mri: reads chronic subcentimeter avulsion fx lateral navicular with sclerotic margins and cystic changes. will this require surgery?

A member asked:

Month ago i had surgery of cervical dysplasia hpv of cervix there any chance hpv might come back even if pathologist said margins are clear after surg?

A member asked:

Is swelling 6 months after orif surgery (almost 1 year after initial met. stress fx) normal? fracture margins remain slightly apparent on xray.

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?